Band clamp for elongated member

ABSTRACT

A band clamp comprises a band for holding a long member and a lock that has a latching pawl provided at one end of the band, for effecting a lock when the band is wound about the outer periphery of the long member. An engagement part for engaging the latching pawl is formed at only one location in the longitudinal direction of the band, and the position of that latching part is a position that establishes the length of the winding of the band about the long member at a prescribed length.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/076848, filed Sep. 18, 2008 and Japanese Application No. 2007-245390, filed Sep. 21, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a band clamp suitable for attaching a long member such as a wire harness to a member being attached to such as an automobile body panel.

Band clamps for long members, comprising a band for holding a long member such as a wire harness, and a lock having a latching pawl, provided at one end of the band, for effecting a lock when the band is wound about the outer periphery of a long member, such as are described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, are known.

Patent Literature 1:JIKKA [Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication] No. H3-100154/1991 (gazette)

Patent Literature 2: JIKKA H3-094025/1991 (gazette)

Patent Literature 3:JIKKA H5-01 91 55/1 993 (gazette)

With each of the band clamps described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, a plurality of band latching parts is provided in the longitudinal direction of the band, the outer circumferential length of the winding about the long member is not constant, tightening may be excessive, and engagement to a plurality of latching parts is involved, wherefore the tightening operation is somewhat tedious.

The band clamp of Patent Literature 3 is described as having one latching part, but, in terms of application, this is used for connecting a garden plant, particularly a seedling, to a support, and is not something for holding a long member such as a wire harness.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a band clamp for a long member, for holding a long member such as a wire harness, without excessive tightening.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain that object, the present invention provides a band clamp for a long member, comprising a band for holding a long member such as a wire harness, and a lock, having a latching pawl, provided at one end of the band, for effecting a lock when the band is wound about the outer periphery of the long member, wherein an engagement part for engaging the latching pawl of the lock is formed at only one location in the longitudinal direction of the band, and the position of that latching part is a position that establishes the length of the winding of the band about the long member at a prescribed length.

According to the configuration described above, the length wherewith the band is wound about the long member is determined so as to be constant, wherefore a long member such as a wire harness will not be excessively tightened, and can be held at a constant diameter. When the band is secured to a member being attached to such as a vehicle panel by a clip or the like, moreover, the configuration makes it possible to hold the long member at a constant diameter, even if differences in the length from the securing location to the wire harness arise due to differences in the diameter of the wire harness, wherefore such differences in length can be coped with.

In the band clamp having the configuration described above, it is preferable to connect a clip, to the band, for connecting the long member to the member being attached to. It is also preferable that a projection for preventing excessive insertion be formed in the band, on the surface thereof that is on the opposite side from the latching part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan of a band clamp relating to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the band clamp diagrammed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3(A) is a section at the A-A line of the band clamp diagrammed in FIGS. 1, and 3(B) is a section at the B-B line of the band clamp diagrammed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section of a band clamp, relating to one embodiment of the present invention, locked in a loop shape so as to hold a long member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS

A band clamp 1 relating to one embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the band clamp 1 is diagrammed in its prior-to-use condition. In FIG. 4, how the band clamp 1 is wound about a long member such as a wire harness (not shown) to effect holding is diagrammed, with a clip 3 connected to a band 2 for connecting the long member to the member being attached to such as an automobile body panel.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the band clamp 1 is a product that is integrally molded of a hard plastic. The band clamp 1 has a band 2 formed as a narrow, flat, belt-shaped member, and a lock 6, formed at one end of the band 2, having a latching pawl 5, for locking the condition wherein the band 2 is wound about the outer circumference of the long member such as a wire harness.

The lock 6 has a tubular band receptacle 7 through which the band 2 is passed, and a latching pawl 5 for latching the band 2, that has been accepted by the band receptacle 7, and holding the band in a loop shape. The latching pawl 5 exhibits elasticity biased toward the inner wall surface of the band receptacle 7 so as to permit insertion of the band 2 but prevent the latched band 2 from being pulled out.

The band 2 has a latching part 9, in a portion thereof near the end, on the opposite side from the lock 6, for latching with the latching pawl 5 of the lock 6. The latching part 9 is provided at only one location, in the longitudinal direction of the band 2. The position of the latching part 9 is selected to be a position that establishes the length of the winding of the band 2 about the long member to a prescribed length. In the band 2, moreover, a projection 10 for preventing excessive insertion is formed, on the surface thereof on the opposite side from the latching part 9. In the band 2, furthermore, in the center in the width dimension thereof, on the surface that constitutes the inside of the loop when the band 2 is formed into a loop, a rib 11 is formed, extending in the longitudinal dimension of the band 2. The rib 11 reinforces the band 2, and prevents displacement of a held long member in the longitudinal direction.

In the lock 6, a latching shoulder 13, for engaging the projection 10 for preventing excessive insertion of the band 2, is formed, at the entrance of the band receptacle 7. The position of the projection 10 is established at a position that will latch on the latching shoulder 13, so that, after the latching part 9 of the band 2 has latched with the latching pawl 5 of the lock 6, further insertion is stopped.

How the band clamp 1, configured as described above, is used is diagrammed in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the long member such as a wire harness is not shown, but, because only one latching part 9 is provided for the band 2, that latching part will latch with the latching pawl 5 of the lock 6 with the band formed in a loop of a constant prescribed diameter. As a consequence, the long member such as a wire harness will be held at a constant diameter, without excessive tightening. To the band 2, the clip 3 may be connected, for connecting to the member being attached to such as a body panel, as diagrammed in FIG. 4. For the method of effecting the connection with the clip 3, any known method of connection can be used, such as integrally forming the clip to the band 2, or using a connecting structure such as a keyhole in the band 2. The clip 3 diagrammed in the drawing is represented as one having a structure that latches to a circumferential channel stud or threaded stud or the like erected on the member being attached to. However, other clips may be used, such, for example, as a clip having an anchor-leg shape that is inserted into and latched in a attachment hole in the member being attached to, and any other connecting clip of a known structure may be used as well.

As diagrammed in FIG. 4, in securing the band 2 to a member being attached to, such as a body panel, by the clip 3, the band 2 formed in a loop is of a structure wherewith a long member of constant diameter can be held, even should differences in length from the securing location to the wire harness arise due to differences in the diameter of the wire harness or other long member. As a consequence, differences in the distance from the securing location, on the member being attached to, to the long member can be absorbed. In such cases, the position of the latching part 9 on the band 2 should be established so that the diameter of the long member having the greatest diameter can be coped with. When locking the band 2 to the lock 6, moreover, after the latching part 9 has latched with the latching pawl 5, the projection 10 of the band 2 will latch on the latching shoulder 13 of the lock 6, so that over-insertion of the band 2 can be prevented. 

1. A band clamp for holding a workpiece with a periphery, such as a wire harness in a vehicle, the band clamp comprising: a band having a first end and a second end and a first length; a lock, including a latching pawl, provided at the first end of the band, for effecting a lock when the band is wound in a loop about the periphery of the workpiece; wherein: an engagement part for engaging the latching pawl of the lock is formed at only one predetermined first location along the length of the band; and the first location of the engaging part is proximate to the second end of the band and prescribes a second length that the band winds about the workpiece.
 2. The band clamp according to claim 1, wherein the band clamp further comprises a clip for connecting the band clamp and workpiece to the vehicle.
 3. The band clamp according to claim 1, wherein the band includes a stop projection formed at a second location along the band to prevent excessive insertion of the band through the lock, and the second location is between the first end of the band and the engaging part. 